Word-linking board game apparatus and method of use

ABSTRACT

A multi-player word linking board game apparatus configured to provide a turn style word-linking game wherein a winner is declared by not reaching a pre-determined “final grid.” The apparatus includes a foldable game board have a plurality of successively numbered grids and superimposed over a background containing a variety of associating words. The apparatus further enables each participating player to challenge another&#39;s word-link and if successful forfeit a turn play.

FIELD

The embodiments presented provide a board game apparatus, and inparticular, a multi-player board game apparatus wherein each playeradvances their playing pawn throughout the consecutively numbered gridsof the board game in response to an incorrect linking of an associatedword.

BACKGROUND

Board games challenges each player's memory, hand-to-eye coordination,and provide valuable team building skills and concepts such as creatingstrategies and tactics, social interaction, communication, and complexproblem-solving. Each game has its own unique challenges and tacticswhile still providing an opportunity for each individual player tochallenge his/her own imagination.

Traditionally many board games were designed to be played in astructured environment on pre-defined boards with strict rules ofprocedure and order, usually contained within the game's rulebook. Thesegames required each player to follow the same repetitive steps until oneplayer is declared a winner, leaving little room for individualingenuity and tactical prowess. The resultant play became predictive,one-dimensional, and obsolete.

Conversely, in the past few years many board games have incorporatedfantasy with reality which allows players to develop their own playpattern and leads to mixed results and games with no defined beginningor end. These freeform style games are typically controlled by arbitraryor player invented rules and are controlled or monitored by a singleplayer which results in gameplay that is unpredictable, time-consuming,and difficult to construct. These obstacles make it difficult forplayers new to the group and especially those players new to the game tojoin an established game group without a substantial period required tolearn and understand the house rules, playstyle, and interactivedynamics.

In response to the growing need for interactive play games and deviceswhich require a level of personal creativity yet retain consistentgameplay and predictability for players, there has been a growing marketfor board games that incorporate both set components and player providedaccompaniments. Often, these accompaniments are meant to build off ofthe set components of the game and permit the gameplay to remainconsistent while the content develops and differs in each played game.By their nature, these player provided variables may be tethered to setcomponents of the game without being limited to a finite number ofpotential expressions.

Though there are several game board systems and designs known in the artsuch as U.S. Design Pat. No. 389872 to Rhea; U.S. Pat. No. 6,938,898 toMerritt; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,530,571 to McWilliams; there is no singlereference which discloses every feature of the embodiments shown.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The embodiments provided describe a multi-player word-linking board gameapparatus configured wherein participants are required to word-link froman associated word provided from a drawn card or fellow player. Theapparatus includes a planar board game having ten equilaterally spacedpositions arranged around the perimeter of a first side with a varietyof colors and word combinations blended into the background. Theapparatus further includes a stack of playing cards, hourglass timer,and a plurality of game pawns. During use, the pre-determined firstplayer draws a card from the stack of cards located at the center of theplaying board while any player may simultaneously initiate the timer byturning over the hourglass timer. Each of the cards contains an“associating word” with which the subsequent player must correctly linkto in order to advance gameplay to the next player in the round.Thereafter, each following subsequent player must link to the wordprovided by the player immediately preceding the turn.

The embodiments further illustrate a method of use (i.e., play) in whicha winner is achieved by remaining in the game while other participatingplayers advance through the successively numbered grids until they reacha final grid. The game is first prepared by gathering all relatedcomponents of the apparatus, including the hourglass which is kept tothe side and the stack of cards which are placed in a separate,designated grid in the center of the board. Gameplay is then initiated,beginning with organizing each of the players in successive order aroundthe square-shaped board game for turn style gameplay. Once the playersand apparatus components are properly arranged, the game pawns aredistributed amongst players and placed at a starting position (i.e., a“0” grid or unnumbered non-grid position) in anticipation of a new roundof play. The turn player first draws a card from the stack of playingcards located at the center of the game board and ends his turn,simultaneously any participating player may initiate the timer. Underthis pre-determined timed condition, the next turn player must provide anew word link with the “associated word” drawn from the stack cards. Ifthe turn player is able to “word link” within the allotted time, theturn ends and passes to the next player, or the word link may bechallenged by any participating player. Each subsequent turn player mustprovide a word link for the word provided by the player immediatelypreceding the turn in the same manner as the player who first provides aword link to the work on the playing card that was drawn at the outsetof the round. Each round continues with this turn style play until oneturn player fails to successfully word link and the round ends. If theword link fails as a result of either a successful challenge or the turnplayer's failure to provide a word link within the allotted time, theround ends and the player will advance his playing pawn to the nextsuccessively numbered grid on the game board or to the first numberedgrid if the pawn was still in a starting position. If the turn playerhas reached a pre-determined final grid, the player is out and no longerparticipates for the remainder of the game, and the game continues witha new round of play excluding that player. A winner is declared when allother players' pawns have reached the final grid, and the winningplayer's pawn is the last remaining on the board, not in the final grid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention, and theattendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readilyunderstood by reference to the following detailed description whenconsidered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a word-linking board game apparatus;

FIG. 2 is view of the playing components of the apparatus; and

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a method of play.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The specific details of the single embodiment or variety of embodimentsdescribed herein are set forth in this application. Any specific detailsof the embodiments are used for demonstration purposes only, and nounnecessary limitation or inferences are to be understood therefrom.Furthermore, as used herein, relational terms, such as “first” and“second,” “top” and “bottom,” and the like, may be used solely todistinguish one entity or element from another entity or element withoutnecessarily requiring or implying any physical or logical relationship,or order between such entities or elements.

There is shown in the embodiments a word-linking board game apparatusdesigned for multiple players to challenge individual creativity,terminology, and cognitive development by requiring each participant tocreate and link a newly created “word-link” from an “associated word”drawn from the stack of playing cards or alternatively created from thelast word of a previously created word-link. The game may be playedunder timed conditions by flipping an hourglass timer between turns.When a player fails to create a word-link, allows the allotted time tolapse within the hourglass timer, or is successfully challenged based onthe answer provided, the player must advance his/her playing pawn onesuccessively numbered grid space on the game board. Play will continuein the same manner until a lone player has not reached the predeterminedfinal grid. The last participating player remaining in the “round” isdeclared the winner, and a new round begins.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designateidentical or corresponding parts throughout the views, there is shown inFIG. 1 a word-linking board game apparatus 10 which further contains afoldable game board 12 that is divided into a plurality of playing grids14 super imposed on a background 16 containing a variety of printedwords and “word-links.” As illustrated, each of the playing grids 14 aresuccessively numbered between “1” and “10” and evenly spaced throughoutthe game board 12. During play, a player will begin at play grid “1,”and advance throughout the successively numbered playing grids 14 untila player reaches “10,” or a different numbered is selected as the “finalgrid.” For example, the players may agree that to shorten the durationof the game, and number “7” may serve as the “end playing grid.” Furtherillustrated on the game board 12 is the “out” grid 17 where a player isto place their playing pawn 18 (further illustrated in FIG. 2) when theyhave reached the pre-determined “final grid” until a next round isstarted. Located at the center of the game board 20 is aparallelogram-shaped specialty grid 22 which is used as the placeholderfor the stack of playing cards 24 for use between draws by the pluralityof participating players.

Shown in FIG. 2 is a view of the playing components 26 which are used inconjunction with the game board 12 during play. The stack of playingcards may be stored within a playing card box dimensioned to fit thenumbered stack for portability or storage. Each playing card 24 withinthe deck included is printed with an “associating word.” One example ofan “associating word” found on a playing card 24 is “Drop” which theplayer will display to the other participating players. A player maythen flip the hourglass timer 28 to created timed conditions. This turnplayer is now responsible for creating a “word link” with the“associating word” shown on a first side of the playing cards. If a“word-link” is achieved, play resumes and the turn passes to the nextparticipating player who is required to create a “word-link” with thelast word of the successful word-link. If a participating player isunable to achieve a word link, he/she must move his/her playing pawn 18to the next successively numbered playing grid 14.

Shown in FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a method of use 310. A gameis first prepared by gathering all related components including theplaying cards 24, hourglass timer 28, and playing pawns 18 and placingthe playing cards within the parallelogram-shaped specialty grid 22.Each of the playing pawns may be customized with a specific designscheme pre-selected by a participating player before a round has begun.

A new round of “Word-Link” is then started 312, beginning withorganizing each of the players in successive order around thesquare-shaped board game for turn style gameplay. Once the players andapparatus components are properly arranged, the game pawns aredistributed amongst players and placed at a starting position 314 (i.e.,a “0” grid or unnumbered non-grid position) to begin the first round316. The turn player first draws a card from the stack of playing cards318 located at the center of the game board and ends his/her turn,simultaneously any participating player may initiate the timer 320 andplace pressure on the player by creating timed conditions. Under thispre-determined timed condition, the next turn player must provide a newword link with the “associated word” drawn from the stack cards 322. Ifthis turn player is able to “word link” within the allotted timeremaining in the hourglass timer 28, the turn ends and passes to thenext player 326, or the word link may be challenged by any participatingplayer 328 who may believe the word-link provided is not valid. If theword is found to be invalid by a challenge from a second participatingplayer 330, the turn player is required to advance his/her playing pawnone successively numbered grid 332. If the participating player hasreached the pre-determined “final grid” or the play grid numbered “10”,the player is out of the current round and forfeits his/her turn for theremainder of the game.

The flow of the game is a condition of each player's ability to providea “word-link” with the last word of the previous “word link” created orthe “associating word” shown on the first side of a playing card. If theturn player has reached a pre-determined “final grid”, the player is outand no longer participates for the remainder of the game and the gamecontinues with a new round of play excluding that player 338. A winner340 is achieved when all other players' pawns have reached the finalgrid and the winning player's pawn is the last remaining on the board,not in the final grid. A new game may then be started according to themethods discussed above 342.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the presentembodiment is not limited to what has been particularly shown anddescribed hereinabove. In addition, unless mention was made above to thecontrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings arenot to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible inlight of the above teachings without departing from the followingclaims.

1. A word-linking board game apparatus, the apparatus comprising: a gameboard including a plurality of consecutively labeled spaces arrangedthereon, the consecutively labeled spaces having a start space and anend space; a plurality of distinguishable game pawns, each game pawnbeing assigned to at least one player and positionable in a space andmoveable from one space to another as the game progresses; a timer; aplurality of playing cards, each playing card having at least oneassociating word on a first side; and a set of instructions to guide theplayers to play in turn according to at least the following steps: afirst player attempts to suggest a word-link associated with anassociating word on a card drawn by the first player or associated witha previous word-link suggested by a previous player; responsive to thefirst player failing to suggest a word-link before expiration of thetimer without a supported challenge, a game pawn of the first player isadvanced toward the end space and a next player takes a turn to suggesta another word-link; and the above steps are repeated until all but oneplayer's game pawn has advanced to the end space, at which time theplayer whose game pawn has not advanced to the end space is declared thewinner.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the board includes abackground containing a plurality of potential associating words.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the board further includes a specialtygrid at a center of the board which is configured to receive theplurality of playing cards.
 4. (canceled)
 5. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the square-shaped board game includes an “out” grid. 6.(canceled)
 7. (canceled)
 8. (canceled)
 9. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein each of the plurality of game pawns includes a unique designscheme. 10-16. (canceled)
 17. A method of playing a word-linking boardgame, the method comprising: providing a game board having a pluralityof sequentially labeled spaces thereon, the sequentially labeled spaceshaving a first space and a last space; distributing at least one playingpawn from a plurality of distinguishable playing pawns to each of aplurality of players; providing a plurality of playing cards, each ofthe plurality of playing cards containing an associating word; eachplayer in turn attempting to create a word-link from one of anassociating word drawn from the plurality of playing cards and aword-link provided by a previous turn's player, the attempting subjectto a constraint of at least one of a time limit and a successfulchallenge to the attempted word-link, the challenge being made byanother player whose turn it is not; changing a position on the board ofa pawn of the player whose turn it is when the player whose turn it isfails to create a word-link within the time limit or creates a word-linkthat is successfully challenged by a player whose turn it is not; anddeclaring as the winner the player whose playing pawn has not advancedto the last space when all other player's pawns have advanced to thelast space.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein a challenge isconsidered successful if joined by at least one other player.
 19. Themethod of claim 17, wherein changing a position on the board of a pawnof a player includes advancing the pawn toward the last space.
 20. Themethod of claim 17, wherein a player may choose to start a timer at anytime during another player's turn.
 21. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe instructions provide that a challenge is considered successful ifjoined by a player not first asserting the challenge.
 22. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein a winner is the one player whose game pawn has notadvanced to the end space when all other player's game pawns haveadvanced to the end space.
 23. A method of playing a word-link game byconstraining player behavior according to a set of rules of the game,the method comprising: providing a game board with a plurality ofconsecutive positions including a starting position and an endingposition; providing a plurality of game pawns, one for each of aplurality of players, and positionable at the starting position to startthe game; and providing a deck of cards, each card having only a singleword that when drawn provides the starting word of a round ofword-linking by the players; advancing a game pawn of a player to a nextsubsequent position toward the ending position when the player fails toprovide a word-link within a specified time and fails to provide aword-link without a supported challenge by another player; and declaringa winner when all game pawns but one have advanced to the endingposition.
 24. The method of claim 23, wherein a challenge is supportedwhen supported by a player other than a player first asserting thechallenge.
 25. The method of claim 23, wherein a player may choose tostart a timer at any time during another player's turn.
 26. The methodof claim 25, wherein for a challenge to be supported, a player mustsupport the challenge prior to the expiration of the timer.